Thomas Taylor-Hall

What made you choose Imperial?

I was astounded by the facilities when I came for two open days in the summer before I applied. Couple that with the fact that Imperial is located in London, it was an easy choice. On the financial side, Imperial are also really generous with their bursary scheme.

What has your experience been as an Undergraduate, personally and academically?

You notice a real sense of maturity when you attend university, both from staff and students. The level of student support is very impressive, with dedicated staff to help you personally and academically. Academically, the work has been tough but very rewarding.

What are you enjoying the most?

The courses on offer in the Department of Computing are second to none – we are learning about recently published research and pertinent issues like cybersecurity.

Thomas Taylor-Hall

Degree: MEng Joint Mathematics and Computing

Year: 3

Internship: Facebook, Seattle (Summer 2015)

What do you do in your spare time?

In my spare time I love to explore London. They say that when you get tired of London, you get tired of life. Also, I’m quite into motorsport – even if it is expensive to watch!

Was it easy to find an internship/placement?

My placement seeking went very well – I’m interning at Facebook Seattle in summer 2015. Technical interviews can be really tough, but the teaching in the first few years and online resources drill in the concepts and provide a great platform to build upon. Confidence and personality is important, not just grades. Using the networking sessions and contacts from the department, it’s easy to get your foot in the door.

How is your experience with the Imperial Computing Department contributing to you getting the opportunities that you want?

The department and college provides so much support for not only placements but also future careers. There are CV workshops, interview practice sessions, and networking events among others, which all students are free to make use of. We also have an Industrial Liaison Officer, who sends emails every week with great new opportunities from some amazing companies. As a student in the department, you are actively sought out. There is the opportunity to take some external modules in the business school and humanities department, widening your skills.

Do you have any advice for prospective students?

I highly recommend coming to visit the campus and asking as many questions as possible in order to make your decision – there’s always staff and students happy to answer.